National weather alert

The Thai Meteorological Department is warning people in all regions, including Bangkok, against summer thunderstorms during the period April 24-27.

The TMD has issued warnings saying that in the period April 24-27, a high pressure system from China will extend to cover upper Thailand and meet with hot weather conditions over Thailand, causing summer thunderstorms.

Outbreaks of thunderstorm, thunderbolts and lightning with gusty winds and hail is forecast for the the Northeast on April 24-25, followed by the North, the Central, the East, the South including Bangkok and its vicinity on April 25-27.

In Phuket, Monday-Wednesday this week are predicting a 50% chance of rain whilst on Thursday that will rise to 80%.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general Chayapol Thitisak said disaster prevention officials had been placed on full alert and ready to move in to assist the people affected by the severe weather during the period.

Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has responded to escalating violence in the strife-torn South today by saying that the people behind the deadly attack at a temple in Narathiwat province on Friday night were seeking to ramp up attention given to the violence in the South to the international level and lure officials into conducting “forceful suppression”.

“Those who were behind the attack in Narathiwat’s Sungai Padi district on January 19 intended to destroy morale, spirits as well as the patience of Thailand in using peaceful methods to solve the ongoing conflicts and violence in the South.”

“They want us to use all-out suppression so that the case could draw international attention and later international involvement, as has happened in many countries facing internal violence,” he added.

“The attackers also exploited for their own benefit the reports in the media and social-media platforms concerning the attack in which two monks were killed, using them as channels for spreading their acts inside and outside the country.”

Trying to suppress coverage of the violence the PM urged the media to be careful with their coverage.

“The media and social-network users should understand the issues and help create confidence and be cautious in their reporting, so that they do not become supporters of the attackers.”

He acknowledged that the size of the areas subject to attacks had made it difficult for the authorities to fully take care of people, as well as sensitive targets such as teachers, students, monks and religious leaders.

“Those who want special protection should alert officials and authorities concerned. The public should help the authorities by providing information.”

Prayut also asked politicians to be careful in the statements they use in their political campaigns for the upcoming national election.

He vowed to continue the peace talks between the authorities and insurgents’ movements and groups, in order to demonstrate to the world that “we have adopted all kinds of measures, not only law enforcement, to restore peace in the southern region of Thailand”.

The Phuket City Police Chief Col Sompong Thiparpakun says, “Four people have now been arrested. They have admitted that they saw other people taking beer cans, so they did too. They say they have consumed the contents of all beer cans. ”

“If evidence can be provided that other people took these beer cans and sold them, legal action will be taken against them too.”

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